Irrigating system.



J. P CAMPBELL.

IRRIGATING SYSTEM, APPLICATION FILED MAY 25,1914, 1, 1 1 1,78%. Patent-ed Sept. 29, 19v;

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

JOHN P. CAMPBELL, OF JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA IRRIGATIN specification. of Letters Patent.

SaYSTElV! Patented Sept. 29, 1914.

Application filed May 25. 1914. Serial No. 840,845.

To 017/ ir/rm'n it may oncern lie it known that 1, JOHN P. CAMPBELL,

a citiven of the United States, residing at Jacksonville, in the county of Duval and State of Florida. have invented certain new and useful lmprm'ements in irrigating Sys tems. ot which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to irrigating stems and with regard to certain more spe- (div t'eatures thereof to systems of a mechani al nature particularly designed for o\ erhcad irrigation.

One of the ohjects ot' the present inventi n is to provide a simple and practical overhead irrigating: system which will l e. cheap to manufacture and install.

A. further object. is to provide a syst m the al ovwuientioned chara ter which ill he automatic in its operation.

'l'urthcr object is to provide a system for intermittently irrigating; a relatively large area contr lled and operated solely hy the water used tor irrigating.

Other objects will he in part obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention aceoriilingly consists in the features of construction. combination of ele. mcnts and arrangement of partswhich will e eKeniplitied in the device hereinafter described. and the scopev of the application of which will he indicated in the t'ollowing claims.

in the accompanying drawings, wherein is illustrated one of various possihle embodi ments f the pres nt invention: Figure l is an elc'v'ational view of the actuating mechanism in i-orfnal intermediate position; Fig. .2 i a similar view with the parts in exirenrp'miIiou immediately a lter the valves ha ve heen a tuated from the position shown in Fig. i: Fig. 3 a longitudinal sectional view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1; Fig. is an end view of the actuating mech ani m oi the parts as shown in Fig. 1: Fig". I is a tail view of the connection between the actuating mechanism and the irrigating n proper. -imil11r retercnce charact rs denote cor-- responding parts in the several figures.

lhe 'ringr now to the accompanyingdraw hips n d tail tl'iti't is denoted at a main supply pipe which is adapted to he connected with a water main of any suitable source of water supply. having a considew ahle head of pressure. This pipe is eonneeted at its upper end with the actuating mechanism shown in Fig. 1, which comprises a pair of oppositely extending hranch pipes 11, which then extend upwardly and inwardly to connect with a common outlet 12. Adjacent the inlet is a valve chamhcr 13, within which is positioned a rotary valve H. Likewise adjacent the. outlet 12 is positioned a second chamber 15, provided with av similar rotary valve 16. These valves may he of any desired three-Way type, so constructed as to direct the Water to one side, or the other from the common inlet. for cvample on heing revolved approximately aquarter turn. Intermediate the upper and lower horizontal pipes 11 is positioned a relatively large cylinder ii, in which is mounted a piston 1H, rigidly secured to a centrally (llhPOHQll piston rod 20. The intermediate connections 21 between the branch pipes or elbows it constitute heads. The points of conne tion between the cylinder heads and pipes are provided with suitable packing rings or joints 2Q, rendering the same water-tight.

The opposite ends of the piston rod are provided with cross yokes 23, as shown more clearly in Fig. 4, and connecting these eross yokes at each side of the central cylinder 17 are guide rods 24 and 25 respectively. The guide rod 95 is provided with 1 W0 spiral springs 26 and 27. separated h v menu's of a loosely mounted cross head 28. This-cross head is connected by means of telescopic members 30 and 31 with the. stem 32 of the upper rotary valve 16. The niemher 11 is in the form of a hell crank lever. the short arm of which is pivotally connected at the. point 323 with a link 3%. The opposite end of such link is pivotally connected at the point 35 with a valvo di k :16, secured by means of a set screw 3'? to a stem 38 ot' the lower rotary valve 14. From this it will he. seen that as the cross head 2% is moved or moves hack and forth along the guide rod 2; the valves will be turned simultaneously to an co; :1] amount. to direct the water in the opposite direction. The lower valve disk 36 is provided with a rearwardly projecting lug 40, adapted to operate hetween certain stops it on the valve chamher, thcrelrv to limit its movement to an are equal to that necessary to etlicientlv operate the rotary valves. This valve disk I16 is engaa'ed by a l' orizontaltv disposed sprine'mctiiatcil stop 42. Fig. 1 carrying an upwardlv proiectizwg' stud 43. This stud is adapted to he eiuraor l lit) by trip fingers 44 and 45, carried by suitable brackets 46 adjustably mounted upon a trip rod 47, carried by depending lugs 48 on the guide rod 25. As the fingers 4i and 45 alternately co-act with the valve lock release stud 43 the same is moved rearwardly out of contact with the valve disk 36, which permits the same to be rotated by action of the springs 26 and 27, according to which is in compressed condition at the time.

The cross yokes 23 are connected by means of cords or other suitable flexible connections 50, with the opposite sides of a Wind ing drum 51 secured to the laterally extending irrigating pipe 52 connected with the outlet of the actuatin mechanism. This backward and forwar movement of the piston and cross heads or yokes 23 at its ends operates the drum to cause the drum and outlet pipe to be revolved through the upper half of the circle, thus causing the openings 53 in the outlet pipe through w ich the water is forced to e turned through an arc of a proximately 180, or 90 to each side'of the vertical. This free turning of the irrigating pipe is permitted 'by means of the automatic self-packing union or coupling shown in Fig. 5, which comprises a flange member 54 mounted upon the outlet pi e and provided with an inwardly turned stuffing box gland 55, between which and collar 56'0n the irrigating pipe 52 is secured a suitable packing material. This construction it will be seen provides a water-tight connection, permitting a free turnin movement. 1

Whi e the operation of this device should be clear from the above description, a brief statementthereof is as follows: Assuming the parts to be in the position shown in Fig. 1, or the sectional view Fi 3, the water under pressure enters throu the supply pipe 10, and passes to the le as indicated y the full line arrows. As the escape of this water is temporarily prevented by the position of the upper rotary valve 16 it re acts against the p1ston head 18 and moves the same toward the right. As this piston moves it carries with 1t, by means of the piston rod, the transverse end yokes 23, which in turn carry the guide rod 25 toward the right. The lower rotary valve being held in locked position will, through the intermediate connecting link 34. and bell crank lever 31, hold the cross head 28 in the position shown. This acts as an abutment for the compression of the spring 26, and allows the spring 27 to expand by reason of the movement of the right-hand yoke toward the right. After the piston has completed its limit of travel in theright-hand direction the trip finger 44 co-acts with the lock release stud'43 to permit the valve to turn to the position shown in Fig. 2. That is, the spring 26 being under compression will on release of the valve lock suddenly force the cross head 28 toward the right until the pressure of the springs at each side thereof is equalized. By means of the various adjustments this movement is sufficient to turn the valve disk 36 a predetermined amount suflicieut to rotate both rotary valves, so as to close the lower valve to the passage of water to theleft and prevent discharge of the water at the right through the upper rotary valve. As shown, as the valves are tripped and turned, or occupy the position shown in Fig. 2, the water then passes in from the supply pipe to the right, and moves the piston toward the left, thus forcing the enter previously trapped therein out through the rotary valve 16, into the irrigating system, until the trip finger connects with the valve lock release stud to permit the valves to return to their former position. The operation is then repeated and the trapped water at the right is forced out by the movement of the piston, as indicated by the arrows in dotted lines. This oscillatin movement of the piston will, as above exp ained, through the flexible connections 50, alternately rotate the irrigating pipe from one side to the other and intermittently sprinkle a relatively large area at each side thereof. It is of course to be understood that the supply of water may be regulated thereby to a certain degree affecting the pressure and rapidity of operation and the consequent range or irrigation.

It will thus be seen that the present device is automatic in its operation and relies on the pressure of the irrigating water for operatingthe actuating mechanism. There is no waste whatsoever and no external ower, such as pumps or motors for oscillat- 1n the pipes, is required.

Vhile the present device shows but a single irrigating pipe, it is of course to be understood that a plurality of pipes may be connected therewith by any suitable form of linkage whereby they oscillate in unison on i the operation of a single actuating mechanism.

The device is simple and practical in its construction, having few parts which are cheap to manufacture and install, and may conveniently be replaced or re-packed when necessary, due to wear and tear. In short the invention is believed to accomplish, among'cthers, all of the objects and advantages above set forth.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely different embodiments of my invention could be made, without departing from the scope thereof. I intend that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

11,1111 t Let H111 i" 111:; invenlion .1112 to secure 1;

111 11 111 convey \vater 11, pipe, and 1111 rectilinear 1111* 1111;111- ivai r 111 1110 supply 1:11:-=-'1 out 111111119311 vs111-111, in eoniidiia 3111 11 to ((HIHQ' ivaier 511151133 pipe, and i11 'CilliiiiilQ said wnirpiiriiig a cylinder, 11 1: 11111 1111111111011 111 11: ae'uiated solely 1111" 112111 1 in 11-1: aapply pipe which subsaid irrigatuVllll said cylin- "111111;; pipe.

' 5111., iii eo1111)i11:1 i 1 to were vatea' 1' pipe and in iliaiiir; ,said

111 ('Uli'ilrlflil- 1o convey waiiiop and ill; 111; oaid ip1, (ang n -viii? 1 1111111 pipes 11ellie 11111 1, 111111 1111111 1], 11111-01111) valves. 11111-111 oi' eooiieefiioii, and a eyli 11101 11 111211-11 adapied to be actuated by P1 111 1111. +1 pply pipe for 111111v la-i'ore passing our C(lliliJlDil' water 11111 i11- said pair of 11111-1 111111 ouilet, 11E111 ;111'13111111131Ji1011,

:ide 11 1111 aim-111111 111 1311111- :1111- 111 to (01111)! water 5111111 pipe and 111- -11 1111 1 111111 for (1 4-1111111111: said 111;; a pair (111111111011 1 11 11 11 1111 1, 1,l11'1:-e- 1111111111 111 connection, a 11 1 111111111 l with said 111 Nd eviinder 11 11. 1111; 111o1'e1j'1 by the pressure of the 10111, 111 eon111i11aj i i PCS 110111 said supply pipe, 111111 connected at 11111 11 opposite 011115 111111 1111" 111111111111:

pipe, three-way \alves positioned :11 die oints of connection, 1110:1115 main-11in 1 111-1 111111; whereby they operate in 1111111111, 11 101:1; for said valves. and 1111111115 1111' relea-=- i113; said loelc adapied to be actuated :11er-- iiiittently by 1116 presmre of ivaler in tlie supply pipe.

111 an irrigating: b vslem, in eon1bii1adue, a :51 ppl pipe adapted to convey water under 1111551111? 1111 iri'galing pipe and i11Ler mediate 111e l1a111s111 for osrillating said irriiraiing pipe, comprising branch pip s c1111- nerling the supply pipe with the irrigating pip1-. three-way valves; 11 the points of C011- 1e11i v11, a double aeiing' cylinder eo1111111111iraiiiig 1v11l1 1111111 of i111 branch pipes, a re- 1-ipro1-111i. g 111M011 in. said cylinder, an em 11111111 fl1l11(}l'()1,1 eonneried and movable witli said 111 511,111, springs 011 said 'uide rod adapte11 111 111 alt1i r11a1ely coiiipr d and expand- 111 as the 11 511 11 reeiproeales, and means per- 111i11i11g the miiipressed spring to suddenly expand 1111111 111(- pi 1o11 reaches a predetermined limit, o1 travel to rotate said Valves.

5 111 an irrigating system, 111 combina- 111111, a supply pipe adapted to convey waler under prexsure, :111 irrigating pipe and iidernmdiaii- 1111 1111 1111.5111 for oscillating said irrigating pipe, comprising branch pipes e1 niieeiing i110 supply pipe with 1'l1e irrigating pipe, 111112151111 valves :11 the points of voiamriion, a doii'ipiie acting cylinder c0111- 1111111i1a'1i11e \1i1l1 111111 o'l said branch pipes, 11 1'(,'('il l' 12lti!1,2f piston in said cylinder, an external L'llldO rod connected and movable 1vi1l1 raid P151011, springs 011 said guide rod flduli-l il to be alieriiately eoinpre @011 and as the piston reeiproeaies, means expanded pr-rmiiiii g; 111e, eompiessed spring to sliddeiilv exp-1111111 when the piston reaches a g1re1leler111i11ed limit of travel to rotate said valves, 111111 1111111115 conneei'ing said piston Willi said irri iiiiig pipe lo oseillaie 1116 ii- 11 1111111 pipe as the 1 1 011 1'ee1proea1es.

10. 111 1111 irri aiip 5 1510111 in eo111bina- 11011. a supply pipe adapted to convey vater under 1,111355111'0, an oscillating irrigating pipe and intermediate 111eel1a11is111 for said irrigating pipe, comprising branch pipes 110- ivveeii 11111511111111 pipes and irrigating pipe, val es :11: 1111? points of Connection, a double 1111111: rylinder emineeiing said pipes, a pis- 1;o11 adapted to reciprocate in said eylmder,

spring means associated with said piston adapted to be alternately compressed and expanded, and means actuated by the piston at a predetermined point in its travel to suddenly release the compressed spring to rotate said valves.

11. In an irrigating system, in combination, a supply pipe adapted to convey Water under pressure, an irrigating pipe and intermediate mechanism for oscillating said irrigating pipe, comprising branch pipes e0nnccting the supply pipe with the irrigating pipe, rotary valves at the points of eonnec- 5 tion, means connecting the valves whereby they operate in unison, a cylinder connecting said branch pipes, a piston therein having a piston rod, and means connecting said piston rod with the irrigating pipe for oscillating the pipe as the piston rcoiprocates.

l2. In an irrigating system, in combinatiou, a supply pipe adapted to convey water under pressure, an irrigating pipe and intermediate mechanism for oscillating said J irrigating pipe, comprising branch pipes connecting the supply pipe with the irrigating pipe, rotary valves at the points of connection, means connecting the valves whereby they operate in unison, a cylinder conpectin; said IJI'ETlC-l'l pipes, a piston therein having a piston rod, means connecting said piston rod with the irrigating pipe for oseiliatiug the pipe as the piston rcciprocates, and means actuated by the reciprocatin piston for changing the relative position 0? the valves, whereby pressure of the Water iprocatc the pieton out into said irrigatii ig pipe.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence 01. two WlhllQ-BSKS,

' JOHN P. tlAllil i-ll tllili.

Witnesses A. R HUM mm, A. \Vin HTMAN. 

